The gens Neria was a minorplebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Caesar, when Gnaeus Nerius was quaestor, but few if any others are known to have held Roman magistracies. Many Nerii are known from inscriptions. A coin issued by the quaestor Nerius depicts the head of Saturn on the obverse, and standards labeled with the names of the consuls on the reverse, perhaps alluding to Caesar having broken open the treasury, or showing the legitimacy of the Senate to the legions against the rebellion of Caesar.
Origin
The nomenNerius is identical to, and probably derived from, the Umbrian or SabinepraenomenNerius or Nero, which was traditionally described as meaning fortis ac strenuus, "strong and sturdy". This would seem to indicate that the Nerii were probably of Umbrian or Sabine origin. Such an origin is supported by an inscription from Capua, mentioning an Ovius Nerius, Ovius being a common Oscan praenomen.
Praenomina
The Nerii used a wide variety of praenomina, such as Lucius, Gaius, Titus, Gnaeus, Publius, Quintus, Marcus, Sextus, and Aulus, all of which were common throughout Roman history. The frequency with which some of these were used may have been increased by the number of freedmen of the gens, since a manumitted slave typically assumed both the praenomen and nomen of his former master. The surviving inscriptions also include one example of Numerius, a less common praenomen, and Ovius, an Oscan praenomen, presumably belonging to a Sabine or Samnite member of the family.
Members
Gnaeus Nerius, as quaestor urbanus in 49 BC, had charge of the aerarium, the treasury of the Republic, where the standards were kept, as part of the Temple of Saturn. He may be the same Gnaeus Nerius who in 56 BC accused Publius Sestius of bribery; Sestius was successfully defended by Cicero in his oration, Pro Sestio. He supported Pompeius during the Civil War.
Marcus Nerius Ovi f., mentioned in an inscription from Capua.
Titus Nerius T. l. Antigonus, a freedman mentioned in an inscription from Corduba.
Titus Nerius T. l. Hilarus, a freedman mentioned in an inscription from Corduba.
Neria T. l. Daphne, a freedwoman, mentioned in an inscription from Corduba.
Neria T. l. Firma, a freedwoman, daughter of Neria Daphne, mentioned in an inscription from Corduba.
Titus Nerius T. l. Asiaticus, a freedman, mentioned in an inscription from Corduba.
Quintus Nerius Fortunatus, mentioned in an inscription from Scupi in Moesia Superior.
Numerius Nerius Hyginus, named in an inscription from Pompeii.
Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Filenis, and the father of Philemon.
Neria Filenis, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, and the mother of Philemon.
Gaius Nerius Philemon, son of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus and Neria Filenis, buried at Rome, aged three years, eight months.
Lucius Nerius, mentioned in an inscription from Rome.
Marcus Nerius M. l. Quadratus, a freedman named in an inscription from Rome, was a goldsmith along the Vicus Longus.
Quintus Nerius Capito, erected a monument to his beloved Julia Dynamis at Rome.
Gaius Nerius Florus, erected a monument to his wife, Plotia Acra, at Rome.
Nerius Hiero, probably a freedman, buried at Rome.
Neria Dorothea, probably a freedwoman, buried at Rome.
Marcus Nerius M. l. Stephanus, named in an inscription from Rome.
Nerius Aprio, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Pallas, and father of Neria.
Neria Pallas, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Nerius Aprio, and mother of Neria.
Neria, the daughter of Nerius Aprio and Neria Pallas, buried at Rome, aged six years, two months.
Nerius Fortunatus, erected a monument to his wife at Carthage.
Gaius Nerius C. f. Severus, aedile, quaestor, and flamen, according to a monument erected by his brother, Gaius Nerius Justus, at Peltuinum in Samnium.
Gaius Nerius C. f. Justus, erected a monument to his brother, Gaius Nerius Severus.
